Apple patents adaptive volume controls based on environment, not quality of your music

Ever walk through a crowd with your headphones on, only to find your music drowned out by the uproar? A recent Apple patent proposes dynamic volume adjustment based on your local surroundings. According to the filing, a sound sensor would be used to detect ambient noise and adapt accordingly. It says user volume controls are accounted for, so passing by a construction site likely won't cause your jams to be pumped up to an ear-shattering 11. Although it sounds more likely than some of the company's other patents, don't get your hopes up for seeing this any time soon. Hit up the read link for more details.

[Via Electronista]

[SoCoolCurt Posted Jan 23rd 2009 12:00AM]

sounds cool to me. i think some cars stereos do this now (i think i saw a commercial for something like this). i would love for my Zune to adjust it's volume automatically when im walking to class. its typically louder outside than when i walk into a building. would be nice for it to adjust automatically without me having to pull it out of my pocket (and risk dropping it).

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 23rd 2009 3:48PM]

how can they patent this? it already exists.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 23rd 2009 5:32AM]

I call prior art.

This patent is ridicious, lake many other from Apple.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 23rd 2009 8:19AM]

My BMW has this so I think it will be difficult for Apple to get a patent on it. In fact my 1999 BMW had this technology. If you drove faster and the wind noise increased, or if you were driving on a loud road, the volume would increase on the stereo.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 23rd 2009 9:58AM]

My Chevy Cobalt has this, yikes?! Doesn't say much for this type of patent. My Cobalt is a POS and yet it has had this feature since 2005.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 23rd 2009 10:57AM]

GM has had this in their cars since the mid to late 90's... How could they be in such trouble?!

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 23rd 2009 4:35PM]

D'oh, there goes my G1 app idea.